DO YOU HAVE LEVERAGE IN THE JOB MARKET IF YOU HAVE A SPECIALTY?

ONE OF the most common questions asked during a job interview is, “Why should I hire you?” For many students and new graduates, this is a difficult question to answer, but not for 2013 UC Berkeley School of Optometry graduate, Dr. Jaci Theis. The reason: She established a niche.

Here, in this tell all Q&A, Dr. Theis discusses her niche and related success.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR NICHE?

A: I am the ‘prism queen’ — at least that is what my ophthalmology colleagues call me! I practice full-scope optometry with an emphasis on vision problems in head injury and neurological disease, as well as sports vision.

Q: WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO PURSUE THIS NICHE?

A: After eight concussions and chronic post-concussion syndrome in high school and college, I struggled in that, despite my intelligence, I couldn’t read for longer than 10 minutes. After more than six years of seeing numerous doctors about this issue, I saw an optometrist who, in less than five minutes, diagnosed me with convergence insufficiency and, subsequently, gave me prism glasses. These glasses enabled me to read for hours at one sitting. That’s when I decided I wanted to dedicate my life to neuro-optometry.

Specifically, my goals were to revolutionize the multidisciplinary care of head injury and reduce the gap between the professions of neurology and optometry; and advocate for the importance of and provide eye care to athletes.

Q: HOW CAN ONE DEVELOP A NICHE?

A: . . . Figure out what you love [and] who else does what you love, and pick their brain(s)! Mentors are essential. Next, get as much experience as you can. A residency is one obvious way to specialize, but the buck doesn’t stop there! Find journals, books and conferences. The more you network and inquire about your niche, the more people recognize you in that niche.

Q: DOES HAVING THE NEURO-OPTOMETRY NICHE MAKE YOU A MORE MARKETABLE POTENTIAL EMPLOYEE?

A: Absolutely! Whether you want to own your own practice or be employed at a practice, having a specialty sets you apart from the crowd! When you move to a competitive market, you need to think, ‘What would make someone hire me over someone else?’ When you have a niche, you are not only marketing yourself, but you are marketing what service you can provide to the practice, as well as the community you live in.

Q: HOW, IF ANY, HAS YOUR NICHE ACCELERATED YOUR CAREER SUCCESS?

A: . . . I provide national CE on neuro-optometry, concussion and sports vision. My career has only just begun, and the future is so exciting for where it could go.

THE MESSAGE

“Just start doing it [your niche]! The more you see patients and treat patients in that niche, the more your niche will continue to grow,” says Dr. Theis. There you have it. OM

DR. O’BRIEN started her private practice cold in Denver. She is heavily involved in private practice student programming with Optometric Insights, the Vision Source MentorOD Program and, most recently, began working with iCare Advisors to help others pursue their cold start private practice dreams.